Faculty Profiles

Jiyong Hong
Jiyong Hong
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
3220 French Science Center, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-1545
Fax: 
(919) 660-1605
jiyong.hong@duke.edu
Hong Research Group
Research Interests: 

Research in the Hong group focuses on using chemical tools, in particular small molecules, to understand the signaling pathways in biology. We synthesize biologically interesting natural products and screen small molecule libraries to identify modulators of biological processes. Then, we explore their modes of action in order to investigate intracellular signaling pathways and identify novel targets for drug design. In addition, we design and develop unique and efficient synthetic strategies that will allow rapid access to molecular complexity and structural diversity. Through multidisciplinary approaches, including organic synthesis, molecular biology, and cell biology, the cellular components and molecular events that embody cancer, immune response, and GPCR signaling have systematically been explored. Compounds employed in these studies could also advance the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases.

  1. Synthesis of Natural Products and Study of Mode of Action: We synthesize biologically interesting natural products and explore the modes of action in order to investigate intracellular signaling pathways and identify novel targets for drug design. Completed target molecules include largazole (a marine natural product with HDAC inhibitory activity), brasilibactin A (a cytotoxic siderophore), manassantins A and B (natural products with anti-HIF-1 activity), and subglutinols A and B (natural products with immunosuppressive activity).
  2. Development of Novel Synthetic Methodology: We design and develop unique and efficient synthetic strategies which will allow rapid access to molecular complexity and structural diversity. A specific area of interest includes the development of novel methods for the stereoselective synthesis of substituted tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans.
  3. Screen of Small Molecule Libraries for Identification of Small Molecule Modulators of Biological Processes: With the advent of combinatorial chemistry and other synthetic technologies, it is feasible to prepare large collections of synthetic organic molecules. These libraries are useful in providing molecules that can be used to probe relevant biological pathways. We are interested in identification of modulators of biological processes, including drug abuse and neurodegenerative diseases.

Through multidisciplinary approaches, the cellular components and molecular events that embody cancer, immune response, and neurodegenerative diseases are systematically explored. Compounds employed in these studies could also advance the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute 2001

M.S., Seoul National University (South Korea) 1995

B.S., Seoul National University (South Korea) 1993

Research Areas:
Synthesis, Biological, Organic

Kwak, Seung-Hwa, et al. “Evaluation of Manassantin A Tetrahydrofuran Core Region Analogues and Cooperative Therapeutic Effects with EGFR Inhibition.” Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 63, no. 13, July 2020, pp. 6821–33. Epmc, doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00151. Full Text

Kwak, Seung-Hwa, et al. “Synthesis and evaluation of sulfonyl piperazine LpxH inhibitors.” Bioorganic Chemistry, vol. 102, June 2020, p. 104055. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104055. Full Text

Neal, Samantha E., et al. “Resveratrol Protects Against Hydroquinone-Induced Oxidative Threat in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, vol. 61, no. 4, Apr. 2020, p. 32. Pubmed, doi:10.1167/iovs.61.4.32. Full Text

Choi, H., et al. “A Stereoselective Formal Synthesis of Quinolizidine (–)-217A.” European Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 2020, no. 6, Feb. 2020, pp. 689–92. Scopus, doi:10.1002/ejoc.201901680. Full Text

Chhetri, Abhishek, et al. “Length Specificity and Polymerization Mechanism of (1,3)-β-d-Glucan Synthase in Fungal Cell Wall Biosynthesis.” Biochemistry, vol. 59, no. 5, Feb. 2020, pp. 682–93. Pubmed, doi:10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00896. Full Text

Park, Hyeri, et al. “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Subglutinol Analogs for Immunomodulatory Agents.” J Med Chem, vol. 63, no. 1, Jan. 2020, pp. 283–94. Pubmed, doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01579. Full Text

Mashalidis, Ellene H., et al. “Chemical logic of MraY inhibition by antibacterial nucleoside natural products.” Nat Commun, vol. 10, no. 1, July 2019, p. 2917. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10957-9. Full Text

Wojtaszek, Jessica L., et al. “A Small Molecule Targeting Mutagenic Translesion Synthesis Improves Chemotherapy.” Cell, vol. 178, no. 1, June 2019, pp. 152-159.e11. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2019.05.028. Full Text

Lee, Hyunji, et al. “Synthesis and Analysis of Natural-Product-Like Macrocycles by Tandem Oxidation/Oxa-Conjugate Addition Reactions.” Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany), vol. 25, no. 26, May 2019, pp. 6500–04. Epmc, doi:10.1002/chem.201900620. Full Text

Lee, Minhee, et al. “Structure-Activity Relationship of Sulfonyl Piperazine LpxH Inhibitors Analyzed by an LpxE-Coupled Malachite Green Assay.” Acs Infect Dis, vol. 5, no. 4, Apr. 2019, pp. 641–51. Pubmed, doi:10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00364. Full Text

Pages

Toone, E. J. Preface. Vol. 78 1, 2011.

Garbaccio, Robert M., et al. Preface. Vol. 25, 2015, p. 4714. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.08.083. Full Text

Lee, Hyunji, and Jiyong Hong. “Design and synthesis of a natural product-like macrocycle library containing tetrahydropyran moieties.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 256, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2018.

Park, Hyeri, et al. “Exploration of gold(I)-catalyzed alkoxylation for formal synthesis of (+)-laurencin.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 253, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2017.

Lee, Minhee, et al. “Synthesis and biological evaluation of sulfonyl piperazine derivatives for LpxH inhibition.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 253, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2017.

Kwon, Do-Yeon, et al. “Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of manassantin analogues for HIF-1 alpha inhibition.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 249, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2015.

Lanier, Megan L., et al. “Stereoselective synthesis of alpha,alpha '-trans-oxepanes through an organocatalytic oxa-conjugate addition reaction.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 247, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2014.

Chung, Ben C., et al. “Crystal Structure of MraY, an Essential Membrane Enzyme for Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis.” Biophysical Journal, vol. 106, no. 2, Elsevier BV, 2014, pp. 14a-14a. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.131. Full Text

Lee, Kiyoun, et al. “Stereoselective formal synthesis of leucascandrolide A.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 242, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2011.

Ying, Yongcheng, et al. “Efficient and stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines through an organocatalytic aza-Michael reaction promoted by the gem-disubstituent effect.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 239, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2010.

Harrington, James M., et al. “Thermodynamic characterization of iron(III) and zinc binding by Brasilibactin A.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 238, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2009.

Ying, Yongcheng, et al. “ORGN 523-Total synthesis of largazole.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol. 236, AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2008.